Feb 2013 Rally for Health Care

Memories of the not so distant past:

I think you'll recognize more than a few people.

Demonstrators urge universal single-payer health care systemStatesman JournalChanges are underway to change state and federal health care, but hundreds of Oregonians gathered at a rally Monday said they want lawmakers to move further toward establishing a universal single-payer system.More than 200 people held up protest signs, chanted and even sang at the Capitol’s steps to show their support for such legislation.Photo gallery(Statesman Journal)

Hundreds rally at Capitol to support universal health careby Queenie Wong, Statesman JournalChanges are underway to improve state and federal health care, but hundreds of Oregonians gathered at a rally Monday said they want lawmakers to move further toward establishing a universal single-payer system.More than 200 people held up protest signs, chanted and even sang at the Capitol’s steps to show their support for legislation that would create a single health care plan to cover those who work or reside in Oregon.

Below is the article from the Gazette Times, also published on HealthCare Now!Hundreds rally for single-payer health careCorvallisGazette-TimesHealthcare Now!By Bennett HallSALEM — Hundreds of people from all over Oregon rallied in Salem on the first day of the legislative session to call attention to what they claim is a broken health care system and call on lawmakers to enact reforms.An estimated 1,000 protesters, many brandishing signs and wearing red “Health Care Is a Human Right” T-shirts, packed the Capitol steps to hear a dozen speakers tell horror stories of out-of-control medical costs and urge support for a single-payer health care bill.

On the road to reformAlbany Democrat-HeraldBy Bennett HallDemonstrators swap stories of health care battles on bus ride to Salem rallyAt 9 o’clock Monday morning, a vintage yellow schoolbus chugged to life in the parking lot of the Corvallis Unitarian Fellowship, the first of two shuttling a contingent of health reform advocates to a demonstration in Salem.Close to 50 people, most of them over age 60, folded themselves into the narrow rows of straight-backed benches for the hourlong ride up Interstate 5 like a gaggle of gray-haired schoolchildren on a field trip for civics class.

From The Lund ReportOpening Day Crowd Shows Growing Support for Single-PayerBy: Christopher David GrayFebruary 5, 2013 -- Nearly a thousand people swarmed the front of the Oregon Capitol Building for the opening session Monday, demanding that Oregon become the second state to enact single-payer healthcare legislation, which would set up a government financing system to pay for and provide health care coverage and access for all Oregon residents.

Universal Health Care Advocates Say Insurance Expansion Isn’t EnoughNorthwest News Network (includes audio)SALEM, Ore. - Oregon is working to expand medical coverage under the federal health care overhaul. But advocates of universal health care say it doesn’t go far enough. They rallied on the steps of the state capitol in Salem Monday -- the first day of work for the 2013 legislative session.Among the rally's speakers was Wes Brain from southern Oregon. He said he has had cancer, and his daughter died of Leukemia four years ago. He believes there were unnecessary barriers for her treatmen

Snapshots from the first day of the 2013 Oregon LegislatureBy Thomas Boyd, The OregonianFebruary 04, 2013 6:28Scenes from the first officialday of 2013 Oregon legislative session in Salem on Monday, Feb. 4, 2013.(12 total photos)

Let's
Rally in Salem

On February 4, 2013, the first day of the
legislative session, Health Care for All – Oregon will be
rallying on the capitol steps in Salem to demonstrate the breadth
and depth of support for our cause. With a large enough presence,
we’ll be able to get our issue on the agenda of the politicians
who can move our legislation, increase public knowledge of our
movement through the media, and gain additional cosponsors for the
bill. This is a tremendous undertaking, and we need your support
to make it happen. Can you commit to be there?

Please
see Transportation Options (below) to arrange a ride-share or
reserve a spot on a bus to Salem.

We’re
asking everyone to wear red to show that we’re all there for
the same cause, universal, publicly funded comprehensive
health care for all. If you know your State House District
number before coming to the rally, it will help smooth the
sign-in process. You can look up your district here.

We
need a lot of volunteers for the rally, and we’d love your
help. (See list below.) Please contact us here if you can
volunteer and indicate what you’d like to help with.

First
pick-up will be at the Prineville library at 6:30 a.m., Redmond at
theAlbertsons parking lot at 7:15 a.m. (hope to include Madras
people there),Bend at 7:45 a.m. at the JC Penny parking lot
(Cascades Village Mall).

Parking

Buses: The
Mission Mill museum, 1313 SE Mill St., will allow us to use their
parking lot for buses. They are about two-three blocks from the
Capitol. They would not want to accommodate carpools or individual
cars.

Cars and Car poolingBest:
park at the park and ride on Airport Rd off Hwy 22/Mission St. There
is plenty of free parking. It has covered waiting space; the city bus
runs every-half hour from there and lets people off right in front of
the Capitol ($1.50 each way)

Next
best: yellow lot between the Dept. of Revenue and the Congregational
Church at 700 Marion. (Between Summer and Winter and Center and
Marion St. $6 all day-takes credit cards) 10-hour
parking meters around Capitol area clear back to Union St ($.75/hr.?)
These may be at a premium with opening day of session

Two-hour
free parking around the area, which would require moving the car
every two hours (and Salem's "meter maids" are diligent!).

Another
alternative is Amtrak for those cities where it stops. The train
station is 2-3 blocks from the Capitol. It is union transportation
and it would be awesome to have 25-100 people chanting and getting
pumped up for the rally, plus they could eat lunch or buy something
for lunch on the way.

Volunteer
Opportunities For Rally

Please contact us here if you can help, and let us know what you'd like to help with.

Pre-Rally
Activities

Write
letter to editorCall
or email local organizations that share common interestsCall
or email local radio stations, newspaper, etc.Hang
flyer around community (see hcao.org or mvhca.org for printable
flyers)Arrange
a local briefing- with local advocates prior to event to give them
details and encourage them to recruit others!

Supplies
Needed

CanopiesMilk
jugs of water for weights on canopiesTablesMegaphones
X4Signs
(encourage each person to bring one)

Volunteers
for February 4th

Rally
Go To’s (40)- These individuals will be fully prepped on the day’s
activities and will be circulating around to help guide folks and
answer questions. There will be a meeting to brief on day’s
activities.Greeters
(20)- Will be assigned a position (i.e. rm 50, bus parking lot,
capitol steps, etc.)Set
Up Crew (20)- Arrive early at 8 am to help set up for the day.Breakfast
Arrangements (3)- Get donations from local grocers for coffee, fruit,
snacks, etc.Clean
Up Crew (20)- Post rally clean up. Ensure all items get back to
rightful owners.Security
Officials (5)- People who are available to take action in the event
there is an issue.Petition/Survey
Tabling Coordinator and Team (4)-T-Shirts/Buttons/Bumper
Stickers Tabling Coordinator and Team (4)-March
Leaders (4)- Lead the group on the march around the capitol.March
Cabooses (4)- FollowCostumes
Coordinator and Team (15)-Sign
Makers - We will need anyone who can to make a sign and bring one.Sign
Distributors and Collectors (4)-Photographers
(6)-Chant
Producers (4)- If you have an idea for a chant for the march send it
to Jess Hoffman.Chant
Distributors and Collectors (8)DrummersFundraising
envelopes (distribution and collection) (10)-Schedule
Appointments with Legislators (one from each organization)-Clean
up